On another note I see the Under 20's team has been announced - who are the new players to look out for. I see Luke mcgrath only makes the bench- are our pack big enough?I see Munster are still making fantastic contributions to Irish underage rugby with only 2 starters less then any other Province

The Ireland Under-20 team (Sponsored by PwC) has been named today by Head Coach Mike Ruddock for this Friday's opening game in the Under-20 RBS Six Nations Championship against Wales, in Dubarry Park, Athlone.

Ruddock has named an experienced side with seven players from last year's squad included in the starting XV to play Wales.Buccaneers own Daniel Qualter will partner up with Iain Henderson in the second row while fellow Connacht native Aaron Conneely is named in the back row.Centre JJ Hanarahan makes a return to the side from last year along with Sam Coghlan-Murray who has been named on the wing.Kieran Marmion will take up the scrum half position and will partner Paddy Jackson who has been named at outhalf. Jackson will also captain this year's side.Speaking ahead of the opening game Ruddock said "We are all looking forward to the start of the 6 Nations. It is always a tough test against Wales but preparations have been first class and we are confident we have prepared as best as we can and are now looking forward to transferring that training onto the pitch itself."Ireland U-20 v Wales U-20 (Dubarry Park, Athlone - Friday 3rd February 2012, Kick-off 7.05pm)

I think Reddan has been underrated for Ireland and his partnership with Sexton means he should always be kept at least on the bench. Murray is better at the moment though and he seems to be our best prospect so now is the time to give him the experience.

On another note I see the Under 20's team has been announced - who are the new players to look out for. I see Luke mcgrath only makes the bench- are our pack big enough?I see Munster are still making fantastic contributions to Irish underage rugby with only 2 starters less then any other Province

The Ireland Under-20 team (Sponsored by PwC) has been named today by Head Coach Mike Ruddock for this Friday's opening game in the Under-20 RBS Six Nations Championship against Wales, in Dubarry Park, Athlone.

Ruddock has named an experienced side with seven players from last year's squad included in the starting XV to play Wales.Buccaneers own Daniel Qualter will partner up with Iain Henderson in the second row while fellow Connacht native Aaron Conneely is named in the back row.Centre JJ Hanarahan makes a return to the side from last year along with Sam Coghlan-Murray who has been named on the wing.Kieran Marmion will take up the scrum half position and will partner Paddy Jackson who has been named at outhalf. Jackson will also captain this year's side.Speaking ahead of the opening game Ruddock said "We are all looking forward to the start of the 6 Nations. It is always a tough test against Wales but preparations have been first class and we are confident we have prepared as best as we can and are now looking forward to transferring that training onto the pitch itself."Ireland U-20 v Wales U-20 (Dubarry Park, Athlone - Friday 3rd February 2012, Kick-off 7.05pm)

On another note I see the Under 20's team has been announced - who are the new players to look out for. I see Luke mcgrath only makes the bench- are our pack big enough?I see Munster are still making fantastic contributions to Irish underage rugby with only 2 starters less then any other Province

The Ireland Under-20 team (Sponsored by PwC) has been named today by Head Coach Mike Ruddock for this Friday's opening game in the Under-20 RBS Six Nations Championship against Wales, in Dubarry Park, Athlone.

Ruddock has named an experienced side with seven players from last year's squad included in the starting XV to play Wales.Buccaneers own Daniel Qualter will partner up with Iain Henderson in the second row while fellow Connacht native Aaron Conneely is named in the back row.Centre JJ Hanarahan makes a return to the side from last year along with Sam Coghlan-Murray who has been named on the wing.Kieran Marmion will take up the scrum half position and will partner Paddy Jackson who has been named at outhalf. Jackson will also captain this year's side.Speaking ahead of the opening game Ruddock said "We are all looking forward to the start of the 6 Nations. It is always a tough test against Wales but preparations have been first class and we are confident we have prepared as best as we can and are now looking forward to transferring that training onto the pitch itself."Ireland U-20 v Wales U-20 (Dubarry Park, Athlone - Friday 3rd February 2012, Kick-off 7.05pm)

I predict that by 2020 Munster Vs Leinster games will look like what a Leinster Possibles Vs Probables looks like today. Not a great state of affairs and bodes ill for the future of Limerick theatre and literature.

On another note I see the Under 20's team has been announced - who are the new players to look out for. I see Luke mcgrath only makes the bench- are our pack big enough?I see Munster are still making fantastic contributions to Irish underage rugby with only 2 starters less then any other Province

The Ireland Under-20 team (Sponsored by PwC) has been named today by Head Coach Mike Ruddock for this Friday's opening game in the Under-20 RBS Six Nations Championship against Wales, in Dubarry Park, Athlone.

Ruddock has named an experienced side with seven players from last year's squad included in the starting XV to play Wales.Buccaneers own Daniel Qualter will partner up with Iain Henderson in the second row while fellow Connacht native Aaron Conneely is named in the back row.Centre JJ Hanarahan makes a return to the side from last year along with Sam Coghlan-Murray who has been named on the wing.Kieran Marmion will take up the scrum half position and will partner Paddy Jackson who has been named at outhalf. Jackson will also captain this year's side.Speaking ahead of the opening game Ruddock said "We are all looking forward to the start of the 6 Nations. It is always a tough test against Wales but preparations have been first class and we are confident we have prepared as best as we can and are now looking forward to transferring that training onto the pitch itself."Ireland U-20 v Wales U-20 (Dubarry Park, Athlone - Friday 3rd February 2012, Kick-off 7.05pm)

Strange enough about McLoughlin but there is obviously more to the story than meets the eye. Thought Bowe to Munster was almost a done deal as well but obviously not. Interesting times ahead.

On the Bowe thing people got about over excited because Frankie on Against The Head seemed to assume that Bowe was going to go to Munster over Ulster. We don't know for certain if this the case or not though. I reckon it could be a case of Frankie just guessing

Most successful couple of seasons in a decade and not renewing the coach. WTF? Anyone care to speculate why? Seems mental.

Seems like he was only on a one year deal whatever the outcome was this season, which is fairly mental.

Because many coaches would see that kind of thing as an insult and turn it down straight away, I imagine he accepted it because he didn't really want to stay on as HC full time and basically did the extra year as a 'favour'.

I could be massively wrong, but if he ends up taking an academy/skills coach role, it suggests he doesn't see it as a demotion, more on focusing on what he wants to do. If he doesn't stay with Ulster, then what I've said is crap and he's pissed off at how things were handled.